advice re treatemnt t

[Jill75]

Looking for a bit of advice re my mum who is based in the uk

At 77, She was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in Dec 2022, with g12c mutation

January she started Atezolizumab.

After the third dose she developed severe pmr and was put on steroids, morphine etc

Then a catalogue of events followed: acute constipation, perforated bowel, Hartmann, osteoporosis related spinal partial collapse. she has been in and out of hospital for the last three months and in a lot of pain- she is still has a lot of back pain, which we are trying to get to get on top of

Her last immunotherapy was march and last scan was about 4 weeks ago. It showed excellent reduction in tumour size

Last oncology appointment was a few weeks back

Sadly Immunotherapy is out due to side effects and oncologist advised another scan in 6 months , whilst she continues to suffer acute pain from the spinal issues

I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar? 6 months seems a long time to wait with no scans or treatment- but perhaps there’s no other option

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hello Jill75,

Over the last few months your mum has been through so much, it must be very difficult for you living so far away. Surveillance scans would normally be 6 monthly although this is at the discretion of the consultant oncologist.

I am sorry to hear that she is still having acute back pain from osteoporosis related spinal collapse, this is type of pain can be something that is difficult to get control of, it can take some time and fine tuning to find the correct type and dose of analgesia to help. If her pain is not controlled go back to the Gp who can alter her medication or refer her back to her hospital consultant.

If there is anything else you would like to discuss you can email ask the nurse at [e-mail] or call our free phone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200 Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600.

Kind Regards

Roy Castle Support Team

[Bow-19]

Sorry that your Mum is in pain. I have had pain from my spinal vertebrae and it was difficult to deal with. Where I was living at the time there was a hospice team who had a Consultant in Palliative Care she was excellent and by slowly changing in amounts of 3 different pin medications she managed to get the pain under control. It might be worth seeing if there is a similar service in your Mums area. Hope her pain is controlled soon xx

[Cockailschemocancer]

Hi Jill

Sorry that your mum is going through so much, immunotherapy can be amazing for the tumour but cause so many other issues. Is she with a hospice? If not, she should be able to self refer and the nurses are brilliant at working with her GP to sort out the right meds and they my also offer complimentary therapies too. Xx

[Jill75]

thanks everyone for their advice. Mums pain is more under control now after seeing a private pain consultant. Had great advice from wonderful oncology nurses who explained the inspite of terrible side effects, the immunotherapy worked incredibly well and as we stand no active cancer which can be treated. Now more surveillance ct scans and then look at treatment when the cancer inevitably rears it’s ugly head.